Histology Core Laboratory

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The Histopathology (Histology) section of the Laboratory of Pathology (LP) is devoted to supporting the clinical activities of LP, which involves tissue procurement, processing, and distribution of patient reports to inhouse and submitting clinicians. The Histology Lab does not conduct primary research but supports the activities of many investigators. The laboratory processes a large variety of tissue specimens from NIH and non-NIH patients, including a wide variety of malignancies, AIDS-related diagnostic specimens, COVID-related biospecimens, infections, and surveillance biopsies. This consists of accessioning human tissues removed at surgery or in clinics, processing the tissues, preparing and staining slides for microscopy by LP's pathologists, clinical fellows and residents. Pathology residents are trained by LP's Pathologists Assistants (PAs) in techniques of gross dissection and taught to evaluate large and small specimens in preparation for microscopic evaluation during Histology rotations. The Histology lab serves Immunohistochemistry, Surgical Pathology, Hematopathology, Postmortem Pathology and Cytopathology sections as well as the Specialized / Molecular Diagnostics Unit. During the past fiscal year, the Histopathology section processed approximately 27,000 tissue blocks prepared, microtomy of 85,000 slides and more than 10,000 special stains. During this period, LP's Pathologists Assistants performed and trained residents in gross analysis and selection of the most diagnostically relevant sections for tissues collected from over 12, 300 inhouse biopsy and surgical tissues. The laboratory processed over 55,000 consult slides and 12,500 blocks from over 4,500 cases that were submitted to LP's pathologists for clinical consultation or review for patients being admitted to the NIH Clinical Center or entry on protocol. There has been a steady increase in consult cases since over the past two years, attributed to the growth in volumes of the novel methylation testing provided by our Molecular Diagnostics laboratory. The Histology section continued its services throughout the COVID pandemic, and pathology case material and research tissues were provided to pathologists and investigators uninterrupted throughout the pandemic.